Meet The 2025 WSA-OC Board of Director Candidates

Debby J Platt

Running for Rear Commodore

Debby comes to WSA-OC as an experienced boat owner, skipper, sailboat racer, instructor, and bareboat charter cruising skipper with a passion for sailing and water sports. In the sailing community for over 20 years, her first boat was a J/80, which she campaigned in races in Colorado and California.  She has also owned a Corsair trimaran, and a Shield she raced in those fleets. During the past year, she has raced on multiple boats locally and done some offshore races and deliveries on large racing sailboats, including a delivery from Hawaii to San Francisco.  Before moving to SoCal, she was a Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club member. 
 
She has extensive leadership experience serving on the boards of professional organizations and many non-profit organizations. She served for over 12 years in the Junior League of Denver, culminating in serving as President of the 2,200-member organization and then President of the Junior League of Denver’s Foundation. Professionally, for the past 25 years, Debby has worked in real estate development, redeveloping closed military bases. 

After enjoying the camaraderie and leadership of serving as the Membership Director for WSA-OC this past year, she is interested in continuing to serve the membership as Rear Commodore.  

Sarah Sepulveda

Running for Membership Director

Sarah has been a proud and involved member of WSA-OC since 2017. As a lifelong lover of all things on the water, learning to sail with WSA-OC made perfect sense. She joined the club with years of experience in power boating but had no sailing background. Since joining our organization, she has developed skills in sailing, racing, and water safety. Sarah enjoys crewing in the American Legion Sundowner Series, volunteering in events such as Sailing for the Blind, and participating in WSA-OC on-the-water events.

Prior to joining WSA-OC, Sarah retired from operating an emergency restoration business in Los Angeles. Outside of boating, she belongs to the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars and enjoys spending time with her daughter, son-in-law, and three grandchildren in North San Diego on their small regenerative family farm.

Lindsay Steinmetz

Running for Secretary

Lindsay loves all activities in or near the ocean, and she became a WSA-OC member in February 2022 without prior sailing experience but a desire to make new friends and explore a new hobby. After joining WSA-OC, she quickly discovered that she wished to become more involved and was especially drawn to the philanthropy efforts of the organization. 

Lindsay began serving as the Communications Director in 2023 and is currently responsible for directing and overseeing WSA-OC’s communications and marketing for events through various platforms including email communications, newsletter, and WSA-OC social media. Lindsay has brought tremendous value to the Board through her leadership and work behind the scenes, as she developed and implemented new operating procedures for communications, leveraged social media and communication channels to attract new members and re-engage inactive members, and provided a high level of attention to detail and organizational support. During Lindsay’s tenure as Communications Director, WSA-OC has doubled its membership, which Lindsay’s efforts helped achieve. 

Now nearing the end of her two-year term as Communications Director, Lindsay would like to continue serving on the Board of Directors, taking on a new role as Secretary. She has enjoyed the sense of community and responsibility of serving on the Board and hopes to continue to make a positive impact on the organization. 

Professionally, Lindsay is an attorney working for a law firm in Irvine representing public school districts in special education matters. Her background and skill set make her an asset to the WSA-OC Board of Directors.

Elena Yuasa

Running for Communications Director

Elena submits her candidacy for the role of Communications Director for WSA-OC with great enthusiasm. She brings over 26 years of experience in management, communications, and volunteerism, which have equipped her with the leadership, creativity, and strategic thinking required to elevate WSA-OC’s outreach and engagement efforts. Her career is defined by successfully managing communications for government organizations and volunteer-driven associations, consistently enhancing public engagement, and ensuring that messages resonate with diverse audiences. Her experience and expertise include leading communication strategies throughout her career, resulting in higher member engagement, increased event participation, and notable membership growth. Highlights include:

• Communication Leadership: She has overseen newsletters, social media campaigns, and email marketing, resulting in measurable engagement boosts. She is adept at creating targeted messages that drive action and foster community spirit.
• Event Promotion & Marketing: Her leadership has ensured the success of numerous events by crafting compelling promotional content that inspires attendance and participation.
• Volunteerism & Philanthropy: Deeply involved in senior, military, and retiree causes, she has led fundraising and awareness campaigns for the Ronald McDonald House, Boys and Girls Scouts, and military veteran initiatives. Her recent support for the 5th Annual Women’s Veteran Duffy Event and the ROTC Scholarship programs showcases her dedication to community service.
• Yachting Community Involvement: Navy Yacht Club Long Beach Members since 2016 and currently 2024 Commodore. Director Little Ships Yacht Club Long Beach 2023-present
Southern California Yacht Club Association Port Captain 2023 and currently Chair of the Ways and Means Committee.
• Education & Professional Development: She holds a bachelor’s degree in finance, complemented by certificates in leadership and management. Her focus is on communication and team-building.

If elected, Elena will enhance WSA-OC’s communication platforms to ensure that every member remains informed about critical updates, events, and opportunities. She believes in the power of communication to inform and inspire. Her goal is to create a dynamic, engaging, and inclusive communication strategy that reflects the diverse needs of WSA-OC’s membership while drawing in new members through compelling outreach efforts.